Hinge assembly

Abstract

A hinge assembly for a lid for a container consists of a pivot pin secured to the lid and which is rotatably mounted at its end in recesses formed inside the container. The pivot pin is retained in the recesses by an abutment member formed inside the container, the abutment member being deflectable to permit the pivot pin to be inserted into or withdrawn from the recesses. The abutment member is moulded as part of the container and is shaped so that no movable cores are required for the moulding tool resulting in a low cost arrangement.

I claim: 
     
       1. A hinge assembly for relatively movable first and second parts comprising a pivot member on the first part and a recess in the second part, the pivot member being rotatably mounted in the recess and retained therein by an abutment member on the second part, which abuts the pivot member when the pivot member is in the recess, the abutment member being flexible whereby it can be moved to a position where it does not abut the pivot member and the pivot member can be removed from or inserted into the recess. 
     
     
       2. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which an opening is formed in the second part and a recess is formed on each of two opposite sides of the opening, the recesses being in alignment. 
     
     
       3. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 2 in which the first part has a similar shape to the opening and fits closely within the opening, the pivot member extending beyond opposite sides of the first part to fit within the recesses in the second part. 
     
     
       4. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 2 in which the abutment member comprises a flange with a U-shaped cross-section extending across the opening, the first side of the flange extending from the second part adjacent to the edge of the opening and the second side being normally aligned with the recesses and abuting the pivot member, the flange being flexible whereby the second side can be urged to a position where it does not abut the pivot member. 
     
     
       5. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the second part comprises a container housing and the second part comprises a lid for the container. 
     
     
       6. A hinge assembly as claimed in claim 5 in which the container housing has rectangular opening there being formed each side of the opening in the interior of the housing a substantially semi-circular recess, the recesses being in axial alignment and adjacent to a third side of the opening, an elongate flange having a U-shaped cross-section, one side of the flange extending from the entire length of the third side of the opening into the interior of the housing, the second side of the flange being normally in alignment with the semicircular recesses but being displacable to a position in which it is out of alignment with the semicircular recesses, the lid being rectangular in shape and fitting closely within the rectangular opening in the housing, a circular pivot member extending along one side of the lid and projecting from the ends of that side, the projecting portions of the pivot member being rotatable in the semicircular recesses in the housing and being retained in position by the second side of the elongate flange in the interior of the housing, the pivot member being removable from the semicircular recesses and hence the lid being removable when the second side of the elongate flange is displaced out of alignment with the pivot member.